Melbourne's friendliest dog loving celebrant →

My lovely photographer friend Maria https://www.marialuisebauer.com/ took some sweet photos of Barry and I while we chatted all things dogs in weddings.

“What happens if your couples ask you if they can bring their dog to the wedding?”

I love it when couples want to include their dogs in their wedding ceremony in some way! They show us daily what unconditional love is so why not have them there when you promise your unconditional love to one another!!
After asking to see photos and getting excited, I normally ask them to have a think about whether they think they’ll be able to relax and enjoy their ceremony with their dogs there – and do they think their dog will be happy in this setting, too. There are a few practical issues to think of, like: who will bring them and take them home, who will be the dedicated dog go-to person, will their dog play a role in the ceremony or just hang out, is there shade and access to water, is the venue suitable or will your dog spend the entire ceremony chasing ducks and trying to jump into the lake!
There’s usually always a way to make it work – but if it’s all adding up to being too difficult, there are lots of other ways to include their beloved dog in their day. I have had couples bring along life-size cardboard cut-outs of their dog (great for photo opportunities) or having their dog involved in photos while they are getting ready at home (rocking a special dog-crown/collar), or have someone bring their dog along after the ceremony to say congratulations! I can give a special shout-out to their dog in the ceremony and speak of the wonderful love their dog brings to their lives. Some couples have incorporated a drawing of their dog on their invitation, or place cards. I have even seen couples design a signature cocktail based on their dog’s name – think Barry Spritz!! – tied in with a little theme and fun description. What about writing a few words for a reading made on your dog’s behalf.

Check out the fab photos and Maria’s lovely blog post for more ideas here.

xx g

Sardinia - Sposi

Weddings in Italy.....immediately the grand Tuscan villas come to mind, or the many beautiful villas of the Italian Lakes. Last year I visited many of these stunning villas and couldn't help imagining their playing host to fabulous wedding ceremonies and wonderful outdoor wedding receptions. Ornate building with gorgeous gardens, surrounded by spectacular scenery. All topped off with clear sunny skies and hot days leading into warm, balmy nights.

But the wedding venue I had heard so much about that really blew me away wasn't a villa in the North but a hotel in the South. On the Mediterranean coast in Sardinia in fact. Hotel Su Gologone is a place like no other I have visited. An extraordinary immersion into Sardinian history, art and culture. It oozes with colour, character and style. The attention to detail is incredible. Just walking from one part of the hotel to another is an experience in itself. Interesting art works abound, along with antiques, and traditional Sardinian artefacts. Bright hand painted boulders mark your way from one intriguing part of the hotel to another.

There are a series of terraces that would make a perfect setting for a ceremony or for drinks and canapes - each in their own colour and style - all set against the beautiful surrounding mountains. So many gorgeous photo opportunities. But it wasn't just all style and good looks and photo potential. The hotel was originally opened as a traditional restaurant and the local cuisine is wonderful. They roast their meats on display in a colourful area for all to see - even cooking meat is a work of art here. They have another open kitchen where the famous Pane carasau a traditional flatbread from Sardinia is handmade. Exploring the kitchen gardens shows you all the fresh produce grown in the beautiful grounds.

I saw several wedding parties whilst here....and the tell tale signs of rice at the entrance to the main outdoor reception area. What a joy for couples to marry amidst so much beauty and vitality. And I can imagine their guests loving the experience of wandering about the gardens and terraces with a drink in hand taking in the sights, smells and serenity of this special place. Marvelling at the beauty - all the while surrounding the happy couple with their love and best wishes...and secretly thanking them for bringing them to this extraordinary place.

Matt & Rhi sitting in a tree.....!

I was a very lucky celebrant indeed to be given the honour to act as Matt and Rhiannon's marriage celebrant earlier this year. What a beautiful couple - inside and out.....so gorgeous, so passionate - and so down to earth!  They had the cutest little son Bobby in tow, and by the time their wedding day came around there was another little one on the way!

For ceremonies like this there is obviously already a very strong sense of commitment and family firmly established. The actual ceremony itself becomes a celebration of all the things the couple already mean to one another, and an acknowledgement of the many powerful commitments they have already made. It also means there is lots of love in the house, with families and friends holding Matt and Rhi in such fondness and high regard - and with so much love.

The Como Gardens setting in Olinda was absolutely stunning. The styling and the flowers were so beautiful. The bridal party looked fabulous. And did someone say tipis? They looked incredible set out on the green lawns, with the beautiful back drop of the Dandenong Ranges. The sun was shining and the light was perfect!

There were so many magical elements that all came together to make this such a memorable day. Thanks to Matt and Rhi for letting me be part of such a beautiful experience. Have a look at the beautiful images and story in the latest Polkadot Bride blog. Blog images captured by John Warren of Warren Photography

Image above taken on my iphone x

Georgia and Barry - a love story

My husband Paul knows how to make me happy. For our anniversary this year, he gave me a photo shoot with Cristal at Love Tails Photography - for my beloved dog Barry and I. We had such a great time....okay so maybe I had a bit more fun than Barry!!

I adopted Barry from the Lort Smith Animal Hospital 10 years ago.....so this year is sort of a milestone anniversary for us too. Barry is fox terrier x kelpie, possibly with some pomeranian or corgi thrown in! Who knows? He's unique, he's loyal, he loves me - and I love him to bits. He's been my best friend through lots of adventures and through some challenging times. He fills my life with so much unconditional love.....and as you'll see, lots of kisses. So does my husband Paul.......he just doesn't like having his photo taken (or wearing a mini-cowboy hat!!)

Cristal was inspired by my celebrancy to make our session like an engagement shoot....romantic cuddles under the trees, sitting side by side around the lake....! I didn't need much encouragement. It was so much fun. Check out the fabulous images she captured of us down at Albert Park Lake.

http://www.lovetails.com.au/gallery

Georgina and Pat and a whippet called Lemon

It's no secret that I love dogs, and I love dogs in weddings. So I tend to attract a lot of couples who share my love of dogs and want to include their beloved dogs in their ceremony somehow! 

Georgina and Pat's beautiful whippet Lemon was a gorgeous part of their wedding day. He walked down the aisle with the bridesmaid then stood up the front with Georgina and Pat. I know not all dogs could do this so calmly, but he was so well behaved. He was so relaxed in the ceremony space and with everyone around him.

Georgina and Pat's ceremony also included a beautiful reading by Georgi's sister who had asked a few different couples for their advice on how to have a happy marriage. She asked the couple she knew had been married the longest (their grandparents) and the couple that had been married most recently. Their words of wisdom were wonderful - from the fun to the extremely touching, honest and moving. Even I shed a few tears as we heard of Georgi's grandparents story of what it means to go through life with the surety of someone by your side helping you through challenges. "We have each other, we are family, and we will work things out." Words that were echoed by the most recently married couple who shared that "Any problems you face are halved, and all the good things are twice as good."

 Check out the full post of Georgina and Pat's gorgeous ceremony here.

Plan B

Sometimes it's not just the pouring rain or the wild winds that can make you rethink your outdoor wedding ceremony. At this gorgeous wedding pictured above,  the weather was so hot we had to move into the cellar to stay cool. And it was fabulous! Getting married amongst barrels of wine was great fun and the acoustics were fantastic. Sometimes when things don't quite go to plan, this is where all the magic happens.

It's so important to have a back plan of some sort organised for your ceremony. This will help you relax on your wedding day and in the lead up - not having to stress about all of the possible weather scenarios. It will already have been planned for and taken care of, so you can just focus on having a gorgeous day.

Here are a few tips for managing your plan B for your ceremony:

• Be open minded and flexible, remember the most important part of the day is celebrating marrying the love of your life.
• Hire super suppliers who are experienced and know how to manage the unexpected with a smile.
• Think about what shelter or shade is available. Most outdoor wedding specialists will provide marquees, market umbrellas and smaller parasols for an extra fee. They will usually give you the option to confirm hiring them closer to the ceremony date.
• It's always nice to provide some refreshments if practical - water is always really appreciated.
• If you have a back up venue at a different location, make sure that you have worked out a strategy and a time frame for communicating this to your guests. Some couples use a Facebook page or update their wedding websites. Don't forget the older guests or the less technologically savvy, who may not have easy access to the online options!